The Valley of Floating Stones
The Valley of Floating Stones is a valley in western Xia nestled between northern Abnak and southern Sun-Koku. The valley gets it name from the multitude of levitating rocks, boulders, and crystals that fill the air in the region. The floating stones range in size from a few inches across to several yards wide, and hover anywhere between fifteen feet to four-hundred feet in the air.
The largest floating structure found in the valley is the Crystal Collection.
Geography
The valley is nestled between two large glacial cap mountains. Water run off from the mountains flow down into a few areas of the valley before continuing off into the seas. Along the sandy river beds are caches of amethyst geodes, which grow up from the earth. Several pockets of dry woodland dot the valley and provide an ecosystem to the various creatures that make their home here. Over the years a lot of the top soil in the valley has been lifted up or blown away by the wind leaving a lack of thicker vegetation growth outside, making the areas outside the dry woods appear rugged and dusty, being only covered in small shrub brush.
Underground is a vast network of caves, streams, and thermal vents. In many places steam from the thermal pools spew up and out of cracks in the rocky ground. Many a traveler has found themselves meeting a untimely end as they have fallen into well hidden holes, only to be boiled alive.
Ecosystem
Strangely, fish seem to excel in the rivers and ponds of the valley. And even some species have adapted to the gravitational phenomena and have grown small flippers they use as wings to glide over the surface of the water. Additionally, the area has attracted lots of birds and other air creatures that hunt the abundant aquatic life. These air creatures tend to nest in the floating stones or tall thin trees.
Localized Phenomena
The area's gravitational anomalies are what define the valley. While many of the stones float, there does not seem to be any permeant floating affects on creatures. Additionally, gem mining has been very prosperous here due to the gems that regrow from the river banks. These geodes are similar to ones found all across the isles.
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